Apple wants to wipe Google off the map with iOS 6

As the curator of the iOS platform, the introduction of Apple's own new Maps app in iOS 6 will instantly replace Google on every new mobile device running iOS and for every user who upgrades. And because Apple is extending iOS 6 upgrades back to 2009-era iPhone 3GS users, that effectively means nearly all iOS users can and will upgrade.

Apple won't be supporting the original 2010 iPad in iOS 6, but that entire year's production only represents a fifth of the installed base. And by the time Apple begins offering iOS 6, it will have sold more new iPad models in just the fall quarter than it sold in all of 2010.

Apple's ability to rapidly unplug its vast iOS installed user base from their reliance upon Google Maps stands in sharp contrast to Android and other mobile platforms where new OS releases are only ever available to a small proportion of the installed base, so even those who do want to upgrade can't.

Additionally, those upgrades are often delayed by carriers and complicated by other factors to the point that many eligible users don't bother or don't even realize they can upgrade.

In addition to Apple taking over the role of supplying map data to its own iOS Maps app, all third party apps that tap into the iOS Maps APIs to create their own custom maps, plot directions or pinpoint a location will now automatically get their maps data from Apple rather than Google, thanks to the way Apple is implementing a compatible API layer in iOS 6 that accesses its own in-house mapping services. Existing apps will "just work" with Apple's maps.

Apple has already replaced some of the rudimentary GPS location mapping in iPhoto with its own in-house maps, but evidence suggests the company will soon move all of its dependence upon Google Maps in-house soon, including making its own Maps client available for OS X users.

Note that the basic OpenStreetMaps used in iPhoto to pinpoint the location of geotagged photo (above top, on an iPhone) are not anything like the detailed, easy to read maps Apple will be using in iOS 6 (above bottom, shown on a Retina Display new iPad). Google's existing map data is shown in the middle for comparison (above center, on an original iPad).

On page 3 of 3: This all happened before, Apple partners more closely with Yelp

Okay, let's have that subsequent report. Right now I'm pretty disappointed in losing Street View, walking directions, and Google's reliable world-wide maps. Apple better really deliver with iOS 6. As it is I'm not impressed with the saturated yet difficult to distinguish coloring, ease of reading street names, nor with the detail of landmarks and stuff.

What's more, their turn-by-turn navigation will really have to be steller as well. Basic directions isn't good enough, it needs to have traffic camera alerts, speed limit notification, etc.

It's true that a lot of people will not use google map after this. But there will still be significant no. of people using iOS that will install a separate google map app and continue to use that. To use the phrase 'wipe Google off the map' might be able to help generate buzz for this article but it's simply not going to reflect what will happen.

So when you try to do a web search on iOS 6, you won't be able to use Google? Is iOS6 automatically going to block AdSense and associated website ads? Google was and still is primarily a search engine and ad-based service; everyone uses Google for searching and if you start auto-blocking AdSense, guess what websites do? They start auto-blocking your device. Yes, Apple is eliminating Google as a mapping solution on iOS, yes it'll hurt Google, but it's not going to wipe them off the map. Find me a better search engine.

Absolutely pleased with the loss of the old app and haven't missed it at all.

It become much better with beta 3 but I find it still very slow on my iPhone 4.

I am also missing Street View so I can't wait until Google releases an iOS app. What will be interesting is to see just how competent Google is this area considering it's been Apple's code for Maps since 2007.

Regardless, I am glad that Apple did this. Gmaps was becoming a monopoly, and all monopolies do is get lazy. By Apple jumping in, Google will have no choice but to increase the maps features arms race. Of course, for now they are clearly ahead, as is to be expected with such a head start, but who knows how its gonna look 5 years down the road.

Would be interesting if apple will have any desire to do things like map caves, forest trails,the antarctic and other stuff that typical mapping people just won't do. Not to mention Google has also started mapping the moon and mars. Freaking amazing.